The Mexican government has stated that the warning from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a 'potentially dangerous situation' in the airspace over the Pacific, including the Mexican sector, is purely precautionary and does not imply restrictions or operational impacts for Mexican airlines or operators. In a statement, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) affirmed that the measure announced by the FAA on Friday afternoon is exclusively 'preventive in nature' and aimed at reinforcing 'attention and care in air operations within certain regions of airspace'. In this regard, it explained that there are 'no operational implications or restrictions for Mexico, nor for Mexican airlines or operators'. The Mexican government's reaction comes after the FAA issued five warnings on Friday alerting U.S. air operators to a 'potentially dangerous situation' in airspaces over the Pacific, stretching from Mexico to Ecuador, passing through Colombia and Central America, 'due to military activities' and possible interference in navigation systems. The notifications, which will be in effect for 60 days (until March), recommend that companies and pilots exercise extreme caution 'when operating in the maritime zones over the Pacific Ocean' in the flight information regions of the Gulf of California in Mexico (MMFR), Central America (MHTG), Panama (MPZL), Bogotá (SKED), and Guayaquil (SEFG). The SICT stated that the notice was issued 'exclusively' for U.S. civil operators, including its airlines and pilots, 'as this authority only has the competence to issue provisions applicable to operators of its country'. It insisted that the communication measure is preventive and similar to others decreed weeks ago for the Caribbean region and that there is 'no impact whatsoever on civil aviation in Mexico, nor changes in the operating conditions of national airspace,' it stated. It added that it maintains permanent communication with international aviation authorities to follow up on these types of notices, 'within the framework of cooperation and operational safety'. The FAA warning seems to point to the possibility of U.S. military aircraft operating without prior notification or with their transponders deactivated in these two flight information regions.
